Tummy tucks, country clubs tick up on Yellen's waggish rates dashboard SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 2- Janet Yellen made her reputation as an early spotter of the looming slump seven years ago when she highlighted some unorthodox indicators of decline in consumer spending: tummy tucks, gourmet dining and country club memberships. As chief of the San Francisco Fed back in 2008, Yellen joked to colleagues at a somber policy-setting meeting...
Source: Reuters
| By: Ann Saphir

Vietnam's fast rising property market leaves hard times behind HANOI, Aug 3- Brought to its knees when its property market bubble burst four years ago, Vietnam is riding into another boom, with construction starting in Ho Chi Minh City on two of the world's tallest skyscrapers and buyers snapping up new projects fast. "I can sell about three to five units per month now, much better than before, when I could only sell the same in the...
Source: Reuters
| By: My Pham

Obama's climate plan seeks to slash emissions from power plants WASHINGTON, Aug 2- The White House said it will launch the first ever rule on Monday to cut carbon emissions from power plants, a plan that opponents in the coal industry and their political allies will fight in the courts. In a fact sheet issued on Sunday, the White House said President Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan will cut emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels...
Source: Reuters

Verizon's workers say no strike for now, union talks continue NEW YORK, Aug 2- Verizon Communications Inc and the unions representing its wireline unit employees on the U.S. East Coast said work will go on and talks continue after their current contract expired. Since June, the unions have been in talks with Verizon over the company's plans to cut costs by controlling healthcare and pension-related benefits over a...
Source: Reuters
| By: Malathi Nayak